GA: Gunfight, Off Duty Officer shoots Attacker

Police say the initial shooting erupted after a man made an inappropriate comment toward a woman with two other men in the restaurant. An argument ensued outside as the suspect followed them before firing shots, police say.

Marbury says the officer went to confront the suspect, who fired at shot and missed. She says the officer then shot him.
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FL: Robbery Suspect, Shot, Killed by Armed Victim

MIAMI (WSVN) - Police say a man who was shot by one of the people he had tried to rob died after he crashed his vehicle into a front yard in Miami, Saturday night.

City of Miami Police responded to the scene of the crash at Northwest 30th Street and 22nd Avenue, just before 11 p.m.

Police said the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Francisco Martinez Jr., was found with gunshot wounds to the chest.

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AL: Gun Beats Knife, Homeowner Shoots, Kills, Intruder

Officers with the Trinity Police Department rushed to the scene. However, Decatur Police detectives are handling the investigation. “The Decatur Police Department was asked to take over the investigation due to a family conflict,” according to Decatur Police spokeswoman Emily Long.

Police say the intruder got his hands on a knife once he made his way inside. He hurt two people.

Someone who lives there was able to shoot the man. Police say that happened during a struggle. At the crime scene, the coroner pronounced the intruder dead.
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Washington Post Article: Who are you Going to Believe? Us or Your Lyin' Eyes?

image from pagunblog.com

The Washington Post published an article meant to convince the American people that their perceptions of gun ownership in the United States are wrong. They attempt to convince people that surveys showing lower numbers are goodthink.

The article admits that gun ownership numbers are hotly disputed. They admit that ownership numbers are difficult to determine. Then they make the claim that ownership rates are falling and that  "In reality, only about 25 percent of Americans own a gun." From the Washington Post:

As some 70,000 people attended the NRA’s annual convention last week, nearly three months after the horrific school shooting in Parkland, Fla., the reignited national debate on guns seems to be at a stalemate.

But the discussion lacks some basic facts about guns in the United States. For example, how many people in the United States own a firearm? As with most gun issues, the answer is hotly disputed. Perhaps just as important, what do Americans believe to be the percentage of their fellow citizens who own guns — and will that increase or decrease in the coming years?

Our research finds that Americans substantially overestimate the gun-owner population — and that what they believe about gun ownership is related to what gun policies they support.

Notice the glaring error in the very first sentence?  "As some 70,000 people attended" (bold added) the NRA annual meeting in Dallas. Attendees have been over 80,000 for the last three meetings. The meeting in Dallas had 87,154 members attending.  The writers of the Washington Post article did not have the actual numbers, because the attendance numbers were only totaled and released yesterday, after their article was published. There was no reason to believe the numbers would drop lower than the last two years.

This shows a bias on the part of the authors, and a likely problem with their research. Everyone tends to see what they want to see. The authors of the Post article seem to want to see lower gun owner numbers because lower gun owner numbers translate into less support for the Second Amendment, and make it easier to pass more restrictive gun legislation.

Selection bias is difficult to overcome for all researchers. The authors of the Washington Post article are no exception.

As the authors point out, most people see the numbers of gun owners increasing. It is easy to see why. In the vast majority of states, infringements on the right to bear arms are being reduced or eliminated. The number of guns in the United States increased by over a hundred million in the last decade. School shooting teams are on the rise. People trust the government less and are concerned about social unrest. The number of women and minority gun owners is rising.

All of these things point toward increased gun ownership. What is the actual number of gun owners in the United States? No one knows for sure. Given the rising distrust of government and increased talk of gun bans, it is easy to understand how polling could substantially underestimate the numbers of gun owners.

As the authors of the Post article emphasize, more gun owners means less support for restrictive gun legislation.

Members of the public who see their friends and relatives buying guns in record numbers, who see more gun ranges being built, shooting clubs prospering, and carry permits soaring, may have a better understanding of the dynamics involved than the Authors of the article.

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

TX: Altercation leads to possible Self Defense Shooting

According to Sgt. Martin Fahey with the San Antonio Police Department, the landlord and her son arrived at the home around 3 p.m. when an altercation occurred. The tenant, who police said was hit in the head with a metal bar during the altercation, pulled out a revolver and shot the woman and her son several times.

Police said the woman is in her 50s and her son is in his 20s. The tenant was taken to a hospital with head injuries.

Authorities said it's too early to tell whether the tenant will be charged in connection with the shooting.
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OR: Investigation of Self Defense Shooting

TENMILE, Ore. - Detectives are looking into a claim that a man who shot his neighbor in the leg Tuesday did so in self-defense, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

Deputies responded to the 500 block of Degnath Gateway Lane in Tenmile just after 6:30 a.m. that day to a report of a shooting.
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MO: Warning Shot Scares off Intruder Attempting Break-In

Charges are pending against a man who police say was attempting to break into a home and then got into a fight at another residence.

Just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, police were called to the 300 block of CC Camp Road for a reported burglary in progress. Officers were advised shots had been fired.

The reporting party told the dispatcher he had fired a gun into the floor as a warning shot to scare away the burglar, police said.
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Knife Check Greatly Appreciated on Rainy Day Trump Speech at NRA Annual Meeting

The open and concealed carry of guns and knives was generally legal and accepted at the NRA Annual Meeting of 2018. There was one obvious exception. The Leadership Forum had both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence speaking to a packed crowd.

The Secret Service took over jurisdiction and forbade the carrying of guns and knives into the forum.  Not just knives and guns, but a long list of items were forbidden. Items you might not consider as obvious. It was a rainy morning on May 4th in Dallas. Lots of people had umbrellas.  The Secret Service did not allow umbrellas into the forum.

Fortunately, Knife Rights has been providing a free public service for the last three NRA annual meetings. All of them featured presidential speeches at the Leadership Forum.  For no cost, Knife Rights will check your knife, and give you a stub to be redeemed at the check booth after the forum. They also accepted other items on the forbidden list (sorry, no guns). On Friday, May 4th, they did a booming business checking umbrellas.

There were, of course, knives checked as well.

Doug Ritter of Knife Rights came up with the brilliant idea three years ago. The need was obvious. Who wants to park their vehicle, or take a shuttle from their hotel room, spend 15 minutes getting to the Leadership Forum, and another 15 minutes waiting in line, only to be told you cannot bring your pocket knife, umbrella, or mini-flashlight into the venue?

You are faced with a set of poor options. Spend half an hour retracing your steps, or discard a valuable piece of gear.

Doug and Knife Rights solved the problem for a lot of people with their free Knife Check. If you turned in your ticket at their booth on the floor of the exhibit hall, you had a chance to win a very nice Bowie knife for your trouble.

Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 312 of Royse City, Texas, volunteered to provide the manpower to man the knife check station. They did what Boy Scouts are very good at, offering courteous, polite, efficient service.

It appears that knife checks will be at NRA annual meetings for the future. I cannot guarantee anything. The smart money is on President Donald Trump addressing future NRA Leadership Forums.

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

SC: Ex-Boyfriend Kidnaps Woman, Carjacks Man, Gets Shot by Woman

A woman shot and killed her ex-boyfriend Friday morning after he allegedly kidnapped her, Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said.

Rodney Nixon, 36, died of a gunshot wound at a Marathon gas station on U.S. 29 South near Starr in Anderson County, Shore said.

“The single shot went into his chest, struck his heart, and he died there on the scene,” Shore said.
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NC: Man Shoots Bear that Broke into Home

But things turned dangerous when the bear discovered a way into the residential part of the house, the newspaper reports.

That's where it was shot by a man who only later learned he had killed a mama bear with cubs not far away, state officials say.
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CA: Business Owner Shoots at Masked Suspect

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - An alleged burglar ran off after a business owner shot at him, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office.

Peter Marquez, 48, was arrested Thursday in the 1800 block of South Chester Avenue in South Bakersfield. A deputy in the area for an unrelated reason heard a gunshot around 8:10 p.m., and investigated, finding Marquez, who was wearing a face mask, KCSO said.
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NM: Homeowner Shoots Suspect in Security Guard Uniform, Breakin into Home

While officers were heading to the shooting, a homeowner called 911, indicating a person in a security guard uniform tried to break into his home. He says he fired at the intruder.

Officers say it appears the security guard was burglarizing a home, was shot, and drove back to the Movies 8 to report being shot while on duty.
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Arizona Governor Ducy Signs Bankruptcy and Guns Reform

Arizona has increased the bankruptcy exemption for firearms to two thousand dollars. Previously, only one gun was allowed as part of a basket of items that were limited to a total of one thousand dollars. From  12news.com:

But people filing for bankruptcy also have a choice to make. Under current Arizona law, they can keep only one shotgun, one rifle or one pistol.

The Republican-controlled Legislature wants to change that. The Senate is one step away from passing a bill allowing bankruptcy filers to keep up to $2,000 worth of weapons - any kind of weapon. The exemption expands to $4,000 for a couple.

"You could own four AR-15s in your household and still fall within that exemption amount," McGuire said.

Supporters says citizens must retain their ability to defend themselves.

"Keeping a cat in every room's not going to do it," Rick Dalton, of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, told a House hearing in February.

Advocates also argue a constitutional right is at stake.

HB 2211 passed the House 34-25, with one representative not voting, on February 20, 2018. It passed the Senate, 16 to 12, with two senators not voting on April 5th, 2018.

Arizona Governor Ducey signed HB 2211 into law on 12 April, 2018. The resulting reform exempts from bankruptcy, two thousand dollars worth of firearms.  From azleg.gov:

10. ALL FIREARMS OF NOT MORE THAN AN AGGREGATE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS.

11. ALL DOMESTIC ANIMALS OR HOUSEHOLD PETS.

In case you are wondering if you could convert all your wealth into cattle, there are specific exemptions for cattle and horses in the Arizona law.

Every state and the United States have exemptions from bankruptcy that are listed in law. California has two lists. In general, you have to choose one list. You are not allowed to mix items from different lists.

As valuable property that is specifically mentioned in the Bill of Rights, firearms are listed under bankruptcy exemptions in a number of states. From jweller.com:

The Idaho State Exemption permits one Firearm valued at $750 or less. In Iowa, the State Exemption provides for one shotgun, and either one rifle or one musket. There is no dollar value limitation in Iowa.

In Louisiana, the State Exemption limits the Debtor to one firearm with a maximum value of $500. In Mississippi, firearms are included in its State Exemption for Household Goods, which entitles the Debtor to a cumulative total of $10,000, in a laundry list of Household Goods. Included in this list is Firearms, of which the Debtor may claim an Exemption in one Firearm. The State Exemption in Texas provides for two Firearms with no limitation on value.

The remaining States of Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin, all have State Exemptions that address Firearms in different permutations. Generally, most State Exemptions for Firearms limit the number of Firearms protected by the Exemption or the aggregate value of the Firearms, or both.

The dollar amounts listed are frozen at the time the law passed. Arizona has no provision to advance the amounts with inflation. If the intent of the legislation is to be maintained, the amounts have to be updated as the value of money falls.

In 1968, 1,000 dollars, adjusted for inflation, would be 7,270 dollars in 2018.

It is not uncommon for a high quality rifle, shotgun or pistol to top $2,000.  That would have been $275 in 1968.

Lawmakers that create exemptions in bankruptcy law for firearms are showing support for the Second Amendment and the right to defense of self and others.

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

TN: Clerk Shoots Armed Robbery Suspect

According to police, 58-year-old Zane Friend was outside taking a break when the armed men reportedly started running at him.

Friend was armed with a pistol. He told police one of the suspects pointed a gun at him, so he shot the suspect in the stomach.

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OK: No Charges for Police Captain the Shot Neighbor's Pit Bull

OKLAHOMA CITY – Officials say that an Oklahoma City police captain will not face charges for the shooting death of his neighbor’s dog.

Donnie Newton said a neighbor shot and killed his pit bull, Fat Boy, right in front of their home on February 22.

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AL: Employee Shoots Customer who Assaulted Him

A man was fatally shot at Walker County Recycling after he got into a dispute with an employee at the business this morning, according to the Sumiton Police Department.

Around 11:20 a.m., the victim, 34-year-old Jason Freeman, got into a dispute with someone at the business, which led to an assault on one of the employees, said Nick Key, Sumiton Police Corrections and Communications Supervisor.

At some point during the dispute and assault, one of the employees shot the Freeman, Key said.

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Followup AL: Trisha Henry justified in Shooting of John Kalama, former Boss

FLORENCE — A woman who told authorities she was trying to protect herself from her former employee when he was killed has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said the Lauderdale County grand jury decided the actions of Trisha Henry, 41, of Florence, were “justified” in the death of John Kalama, her former boss. Henry used to work for Kalama at his landscaping business.

Kalama was shot and killed after he broke into Henry’s house the morning of Dec. 10, 2017. Once inside the house, he started a fire and then tried to attack Henry, according to reports.
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FL: Hernando County looking to Restore Exercise of Second Amendment Rights to County Workers

On May 8th, 2018, Hernando County Commissioners will consider restoring County workers ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights while on the job. A current County policy prevents them from carrying firearms without fear of disciplinary action. County Commission Chairman Steve Champion has indicated that county workers should not have to chose between their right to self defense and the potential loss of their job. From abcactionnews.com:

HERNANDO COUNTY Fla. — Starting next week, Hernando County workers who have a concealed carry permit may soon be allowed to carry their guns to work.

"They should have a right to defend," said Hernando County Commission Chairman Steve Champion.
Champion also owns American Gun and Pawn.

"Hernando County is a pro second amendment county and I’m pro second amendment," he said.

The county’s current policy prohibits county workers from carrying a weapon while on the job.

"I asked several weeks ago to add this to the agenda to change the policy and allow any concealed weapons holder to carry when appropriate," said Champion.

At the end of February, 2018, Lake County Florida voted to restore the right to bear arms to Lake County employees who had carry permits. From dailycommercial.com:

TAVARES — The Lake County Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to allow county employees with concealed weapon permits to carry their guns while on the job.

Commissioner Josh Blake asked fellow commissioners to consider doing away with the county’s employee policy that prohibits the possession of weapons while on the job. Commissioner Wendy Breeden was hesitant but joined fellow commissioners in the unanimous decision to change the policy.

“I personally believe that the natural right to defend your life does not disappear into thin air when you leave your house in the morning when you go to work. I think that is something we have control over, which we do. It’s our employee handbook. I do think it’s a reasonable thing to allow employees to utilize that right and have the right to self-defense while they are on the job,” Blake said.

The change takes effect immediately and applies to those who have permits. It is illegal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

It is currently illegal to carry a firearm in Florida (there are a few exceptions) without a permit.  County workers will now be treated the same as other citizens, when it comes to the right to self defense.

This is the continuation of a trend moving across the U.S.A. to restore rights that were infringed with personnel policies in local and state governments. Just because you are a government worker, you should not be required to give up fundamental Constitutional rights. There are exceptions, of course. Prison guards are not allowed to carry guns among the prison population.

Bowling Green in Kentucky restored the right to be armed to public employees at work, in January of 2018. Virginia and Georgia counties restored the right in 2016.  Local government employees have regained their rights in Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan, and Texas.

Government workers should not have extra special rights. They should have the same rights everyone else has. Bureaucrats that have the same rights as ordinary citizens are more likely to uphold those rights. The will have "skin in the game".

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

MO: Warning Shot ineffective, Second Shot to Suspect's Leg

He grabbed his gun and went to the garage, where he confronted a burglar, police say. He tried to hold the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived, but the burglar "advanced toward" the homeowner "in a threatening manner," police say.

The homeowner fired a shot into the air, but the burglar kept coming at him aggressively, police say.

The homeowner fired a second shot, this time at the burglar's leg.
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Followup MT: James George Stiffler speaks to Republicans about his Shooting Trial in 2016

A little over two years ago, James George Stiffler of Helena was on trial for deliberate homicide after shooting and killing a burglar in his home on Canyon Ferry Road.


Earlier this week, Stiffler attended a gathering of the Lewis and Clark County Young Republicans to tell his side of the story and defend the right to use deadly force. Stiffler's 2016 homicide trial ended in a hung jury, which means jurors could not come to a consensus on whether the shooting was legally justified or not. Stiffler's defense attorney has said two jurors believed he was guilty and the other 10 believed he was innocent.
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